Beyond the Stars

Chapter 14: The Hidden Vows

"They asked me to give them the blessing of marriage," the priest said, his voice steady but filled with weight.

My breath caught. The words felt like stones sinking into my chest. Marriage? Sinag and Hiwaga? How could their parents not know?

The priest must have read the confusion on my face because he added softly, "No one comes to Cassiopeia's church often. It is old, forgotten... but those two came often. They weren't wearing crowns or robes of satin. They looked like villagers. In truth, I only knew their names later. To me, they were simply a young man and woman who loved each other."

Danilo leaned forward, disbelief sharp in his voice. "Why did you agree to it? The princess was young—"

"And so was the prince," Cedric cut in, his arms folded.

The priest lifted his hand, not angrily, but with quiet authority. "Goddess Cassiopeia blessed me with the sight to know whether love truly exists in someone's heart. Before they asked for marriage, I saw the way they looked at each other. Not with duty. Not with desperation. With love. Do you understand what that means?"

His eyes lingered on each of us in turn.

"In most kingdoms," he continued, "marriages are arrangements. Political. Convenient. The blessing comes from kings and queens, who value alliances over affection. Some are fortunate—love grows within their arranged bond. But others... others live as strangers under one roof." His voice softened. "Hiwaga and Sinag were different. They weren't forced. They chose each other. That is why I blessed them."

He folded his hands in his lap. "If you ask me why... it is because I saw that their love was real, and they were old enough to decide. That is all I need."

I wanted to ask more, to pull the whole truth from him, but his gaze dimmed with regret. "I don't know the whole story. I can't answer all your questions. Only this—I saw love, and it was true."

"Are they still coming here?" I asked quickly, clinging to hope.

The priest shook his head. "No. They stopped, long ago. Since then, the church has been empty. But if you find them... tell them I still pray for their happiness. Tell them this place misses them."

His words lingered in me like smoke that refused to clear.

We left the church in silence, but my thoughts screamed. Hiwaga and Sinag. Married. Was that before the betrayal Therondia speaks of? Before the tragedy Caspian swears by?

Too many questions, and every answer only tangled the truth more.

"ANGELINE!"

The shout jolted me from my thoughts. My friends weren't calling to me in anger—they were warning me.

I turned—and froze.

A giant loomed ahead, taller than the trees, its shadow falling across us like a storm. Its voice rumbled like thunder.

"Fresh meat."

Panic surged through me. There was no time for planning. The others lunged forward, weapons already in hand.

Baron slashed with his claymore, a blur of motion as his speed carried him past the giant's knees. Cedric roared and ripped a tree from the ground, swinging it like a club against the giant's shin. Danilo teleported from strike to strike, stabbing wherever he saw an opening. Alon tried to flank, spear jabbing, but the giant swatted him away like a fly.

I fired arrows as fast as I could, but they bounced harmlessly off its thick hide. My stomach dropped. This wasn't enough.

I clenched my fists and focused. The boulders scattered nearby trembled, then rose into the air at my command. My head throbbed with the effort. I hurled one—too low, it smashed against its chest. Another—too far left, barely grazed its arm.

"Come on," I muttered through gritted teeth, eyes burning. "Just the face. Aim for the face."

"ANGELINE, WAIT!" Blessica's voice cut through.

I looked. She shifted before my eyes, feathers sprouting, her body twisting until a woodpecker took flight. She darted upward and began pecking furiously at the giant's eye. It bellowed, swiping at her in pain.

Now.

I hurled the largest boulder I could lift. It crashed against the giant's face with a sickening crack. The creature staggered, eyes rolling, then collapsed with a thunderous crash that shook the ground.

"RUN!"

We didn't need telling twice. We fled until the sound of its groaning breaths faded behind us. Only then did we stop, gasping for air.

Alon doubled over, panting. "We just used our powers... in a real battle."

Baron smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Except you. Didn't see much from you."

Alon straightened, scowling. "Oh really? Who do you think conjured the stones Angeline threw? You think they just appeared? Not everyone shows off with flashy powers."

Baron rolled his eyes. "Excuses."

"Boys," Blessica snapped, "Carmen nearly got killed because neither of you was paying attention."

Carmen raised a brow, folding her arms. "And yet I lived. Thanks to Angeline. And to Blessica." She smirked faintly at Blessica, who narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

But then Carmen's expression shifted, serious now. "All of you—show me your wounds."

Danilo snorted. "Why? So you can poke them worse?"

"Danilo." I glared.

Carmen ignored him and placed her hands on each of us. Her eyes glowed faint green. Warmth spread through my skin as the gashes and cuts vanished. When she pulled back, she was pale, breathless, but every scratch was gone.

"Thank you," I whispered.

Carmen waved me off. "Don't think I did it out of kindness. I don't like debts."

Blessica muttered under her breath, but didn't argue further.

We pressed on until the trees thinned and lights flickered ahead—a village. Relief washed over me. We were exhausted. Maybe someone would let us stay the night.

But as we approached the first house, I froze. A woman sat outside, her face buried in her hands. She was weeping, shoulders trembling with grief.

I stepped closer. "Are you all right? What's wrong?"

She lifted her face—and my heart stopped.

I knew her.

But from where?

Her features were hauntingly familiar, like a face I had glimpsed in portraits or in whispers of memory. The others looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to speak, but my throat felt dry.

Who was she? And why did I feel that this woman might be the key to unraveling the truth of Sinag and Hiwaga at last? see this lady?